India sharply reacted to remarks made by Pakistani General Musharraf during a farewell function for US CENTCOM head Michael Kurilla, criticizing Pakistan's nuclear policies and accusing the country of being hand-in-glove with terrorist groups. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that Pakistan's nuclear sabre-rattling is its stock-in-trade, drawing parallels between General Musharraf's comments and concerns over Pakistan's military ties to terrorists.
The US is closely tracking cases of American citizens detained in Iran, with at least one known detainee being Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American former correspondent with Radio Farda. The Iranian government accuses him of collaborating with a hostile government and he went on a hunger strike in June. This is not the first time Americans have been detained in Iran, as 94 US citizens have been held since 1979, including during the 444-day hostage crisis that captivated the world. The US State Department warns against travel to Iran due to the risk of detention and limited consular services, citing Switzerland as the only formal diplomatic intermediary.
Iran is facing potential snapback sanctions from the European Union if it does not reach a diplomatic solution with the US by August 2025, following allegations of nuclear activities and breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal. The E3 ministers have triggered UN snapback measures, citing their JCPOA membership as justification, while Iran's Foreign Minister denies seeking a weapon and claims European countries lack the legal right to restore sanctions. Diplomats suggest cooperation with the IAEA and addressing concerns over its uranium stockpile could delay snapback sanctions, but US intelligence agencies had previously assessed an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit the US from September 23-29 to discuss trade and tariff issues with President Donald Trump, amid tensions over a 50% tariff on Indian goods imposed by the US. The meeting aims to address disagreements over opening India's farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. Modi's visit comes after previous bilateral talks collapsed due to recalcitrance from New Delhi, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hoping to wrap up trade negotiations by the end of October.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has threatened India over the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that an enemy can't snatch even single drop of water from Pakistan. The treaty, signed in 1960, regulates the sharing of water between India and Pakistan. Sharif's comments come amid tensions between the two countries, with India accusing Pakistan of violating the treaty by diverting water for its own use. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned India that Pakistan will not allow it to take even a single drop of water belonging to the country amid rising tensions between the two nations. The warning came after India put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. Pakistan has repeatedly threatened to treat any attempt to stop its water supply as an act of war. Army Chief Asim Munir stated that if India built a dam, Pakistan would destroy it, emphasizing that the Indus River is not Indian property and that the country has resources to undo any designs to control it.
Pearl Global Industries is facing pressure from US customers to shift production to countries with lower tariffs, such as Vietnam or Bangladesh, where the company also has manufacturing facilities. In contrast, Gokaldas Exports plans to increase production in Ethiopia and Kenya, which have a 10 percent tariff, indicating a potential shift in global supply chain strategies amidst trade tensions.
Vladimir Putin made a series of high-profile visits to various countries in the Middle East and Asia, aiming to strengthen Russia's influence as a global power broker. He visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan, signing numerous agreements and pacts with local leaders. These visits aimed to counter Western alliances and promote strategic ties between Russia and key nations in the region. Putin's meetings included a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as deals with Vietnamese President To Lam and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported intense communications with European leaders and the US over the past week, focusing on achieving peace in Ukraine and Europe. He mentioned a coordination meeting where five common principles were agreed upon before discussing these positions with US President.
Israel has announced steps to increase aid to Gaza, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas and establishing protected routes for aid convoys. The move comes amid international pressure, with a statement signed by foreign ministers from 27 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, and the UK, calling for more aid. The European Union has also joined the effort, with its foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas among those who signed the statement, which now includes EU member states Italy and Latvia.